Permian Basin Chapter - Texas Restaurant Association

08/27/2026

Midland & Odessa restaurant community — we need your help!

The Texas Restaurant Association's Permian Basin Chapter is joining Seat the Table in urging Congress to create work permits for hardworking, law-abiding immigrants who help keep restaurants throughout Midland, Odessa, the Permian Basin, and across Texas running.

This issue directly affects our local restaurants, our workforce, and the affordability of the food our communities enjoy. Supporting a practical solution is both the right thing to do and important to the future of our industry.

📣 Become a lead signatory and support the call for work permits:
https://seatthetable.org/

📝 Share your story and tell us why this issue matters to you:
https://fs24.formsite.com/wsaaritramailorg/STT-Immigration-Stories/index

The Permian Basin restaurant community has a powerful voice. Let’s use it.

08/25/2026

𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐝𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 & 𝐎𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 & 𝐁𝐚𝐫 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 — 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐔𝐩 𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭?

Insurance costs? Legal issues? Staffing challenges? Daily operations? Plans for growth?

You don’t have to tackle it alone. Steven Cordova, Member Engagement Manager for the Texas Restaurant Association, connects TRA members throughout Midland, Odessa, and the Permian Basin with resources and opportunities that can make a real difference.

Recently, Steven has helped TRA members:

💰 Access legal resources and identify significant insurance savings
📈 Improve profitability with technology from SpotOn and Owner.com
🤝 Identify new catering and business opportunities
🎓 Save approximately 15–20% per employee on training programs

One conversation could save your business time, money, and stress — or uncover an opportunity you didn’t know was available.

Ready to find solutions? Reach out to Steven and put your TRA membership to work.

📧 [email protected]

08/17/2026

🍽️ 𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞. 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫. 𝐆𝐨 𝐕𝐈𝐏!

Tickets are on sale for the 41st Annual Taste of the Permian Basin on Thursday, October 1 at the Midland County Horseshoe Pavilion!

𝐔𝐩𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 $𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐕𝐈𝐏 𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝟓:𝟑𝟎 𝐩.𝐦.—giving you extra time to explore and taste flavors from restaurants, bars, food trucks, and local food businesses across the Permian Basin.

VIP tickets are limited, so don’t wait!

🎟️ Get your $100 VIP ticket today: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/41st-annual-taste-of-the-permian-basin-pbtra

08/15/2026

🚨 𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞!🚨

Calling all restaurants, bars, food trucks, and cottage food producers: submit your vendor agreement TODAY to ensure your business is included in advertising and promotions for the 41st Annual Taste of the Permian Basin!

Please note: Today’s deadline is specifically for inclusion in event advertising and promotional materials.

Showcase your best bites, connect with hundreds of local guests, and put your business in front of the Permian Basin community.

📅 Thursday, October 1, 2026
📍 Midland County Horseshoe Pavilion

Secure your complimentary vendor booth and advertising recognition by submitting your agreement today:

👉https://mcusercontent.com/ba4f5470d7e01dcb7ddd3c555/files/263d4820-7258-cf43-c2e9-ea6462c83cef/2026_PBTRA_Taste_Vendor_Agreement_Fillable_FINAL.01.pdf

08/13/2026

08/07/2026

All TRA members are invited to bring your ideas, examples, and data to this off-the-record conversation that will help us build a successful advocacy agenda for the next Texas legislative session. For this meeting, we will focus on: - Insurance and liability risk (general liability, health insurance...

08/06/2026

📣 You have more power to shape our industry than you may realize.

When restaurants come together through the Texas Restaurant Association, lawmakers listen. Now is your opportunity to help determine what TRA advocates for during the next Texas legislative session.

All TRA members are invited to bring their ideas, real-world examples, and data to an off-the-record conversation focused on:

🛡️ Insurance and liability risk—including general liability, health insurance, and liquor liability
💳 Swipe fees—including rates, chargebacks, and transparency

The challenges you face every day should help shape the solutions we pursue. Join fellow restaurant professionals, share your perspective, and help build an advocacy agenda that creates meaningful change for our industry.

Don’t just react to new laws—help influence them. Your voice matters, and it’s stronger when we speak together.

Join us Thursday, August 20th at 9:30am.

Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/c3mIphGFS_2zoaLlpopo9w #/registration

Questions? Contact Kelsey at [email protected].

08/05/2026

Discover amazing restaurant deals around you. Tap, show, enjoy!

08/03/2026

In case you did not know!
Hmmm 🧐

Since we keep hearing “Why do we always get chicken, coffee and Mexican restaurants?” we decided to actually look at the numbers.

We reviewed roughly “696 restaurant listings across Midland-Odessa” and categorized them by what they primarily serve.

A few surprises:

🌮 Mexican/Tex-Mex is the largest category at nearly 1 in 5 restaurants.

🍔 Burgers actually outnumber chicken. Yep. Burgers.

🍗 Chicken represents roughly “7%” of the market.

📊 The Top 5 categories: Mexican, burgers, chicken, pizza and BBQ together make up roughly “44%” of all restaurants.

But here's the thing: restaurants don't open because Midland-Odessa has reached some predetermined quota of tacos or chicken fingers. 💰They open because people continue spending money at them.

The restaurant mix is ultimately a reflection of what the market continues to support.

So instead of “Why do we keep getting these?” maybe the better question is:

What different cuisine would you actually support with your wallet?👇

*Numbers are estimates based on current public listings, menus and primary concepts. This is not an official government census of tacos. 🌮

08/03/2026

The Texas Restaurant Association is proud to support the Dignity Act, a bipartisan solution that would provide work permits for long-term, law-abiding immigrants—including essential workers, Dreamers and TPS holders—who help fill critical roles throughout our food supply chain.

This is one of many issues TRA works on at the state and federal levels to strengthen restaurants, support our workforce and protect the future of our industry.

But our voice is stronger when more restaurant owners and industry partners get involved.
If you’re not a TRA member, now is the time to join. Help us advocate for the policies our industry needs to thrive. Email [email protected] to get started!

Learn more and support the Dignity Act: https://seatthetable.org/keep-food-on-the-table/